Receive the latest blue-star updates in your inbox

It's Simple for the Cowboys: They Need to Beat Washington

The Dallas Cowboys have a lot on the line Thursday night. NBC 5's Newy Scruggs and Cowboys Insider Jean-Jacques Taylor discuss why a potential loss to Washington could have major repercussions. (Published Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017)

It’s going to take more than benching cornerback Anthony Brown for the Cowboys’ defense to play better.

Sure, Brown has struggled at times this season, allowing five touchdowns and being penalized nine times in the season’s first 11 games.

“A lot of time it’s just technique,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said of Brown’s penalties. “He works as hard as any guy out here, preparation and everything, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to be better with our hands.

“We control penalties ourselves either by concentration, self-control or good judgment. We’ve got to use one of those three. That’s all under our control.”

“I’ve been around it when it has had unbelievable success and I’ve been around it when it didn’t. Once you vacillate, you are done to me,” Marinelli said. “You vacillate, I would lose all respect. I don’t vacillate.”

"I have strong belief in our players and what we do, so I never question. That's the best part of it. Over my career, it's been questioned before. I just let it go. I just keep doing what I believe in.

“I do it every day. I come out with great belief. I believe in the game and how you work at it. I think good results will come."

Marinelli better get the results he expects Thursday against Washington, or the Cowboys can start focusing on the draft.